B-day (budget day) in Virginia? Cliffhanger ending in offing

Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | 04/27/2004 | Jeff Shapiro

[iceskater]

Thanks for ruining my lunch.

[Corin Stormhands]

I'm better than Weight Watchers...

[iceskater]

Gilmore should just go away. His stubbornness hasn't helped our cause.

[iceskater]

I'm better than Weight Watchers...

LOL.

I am so frustrated with this situation. Sigh.

[Gabz]

I may be new to these parts............but giving back taxpayer money is not in the lexicon of politicians....especially in the same form in which they took it in the first place, i.e. sales and sin taxes.

[iceskater]

You know what's really sad? I have otherwise reasonably intelligent friends who have told me that raising taxes is ok because the state "needs the money." THIS is what we have to fight. The sheeple have bought this line of crap - hook, line and sinker. And Warner has just played it perfectly.

I am beginning to think there is no hope for the republic.

[Gabz]

Even one of my avowed lib friends was appalled by the increases they were seeking (and have now gotten).

I guess there is an advantage in not having lived here all that long.........I don't know all that many people and have talked politics with very few of them.

I have never understood the "the state needs the money" mentality when it comes to tax increases. I realize that to provide certain services there must be a source of revenue, I'm not that naive. But there comes a time when someone has to say enough is enough.

[familyofman]

"Mims, Loudoun
He ran un-opposed last year. Even the democrats don't challenge him."

He's from my district. I thought he had voted No before. Without a challenger what can be done.

I hope the bond raters are happy enough to maintain the AAA rating, to lose it after all this would really hurt.

[iceskater]

Funny thing, that bond rating.
I heard our moron governor on the radio this morning - hootin' and hollerin' about this wonderful budget. Not once did he mention the bond rating. I would have thought it would've been the first thing out of his mouth since that's what he was hanging his hat on to force this tax increase through. Now, all of a sudden, it's off the radar screen.

[Gabz]

And this surprises you???????

[Corin Stormhands]

That's cuz it was never really the issue.

[iceskater]

No. Not really.

I'm just tired now. I can't fight it anymore.

[iceskater]

But that's what the sheeple think.

[Gabz]

Of course it's what the sheeple think.....what else were they supposed to think when that line was force fed to them through the media 24/7?

On the surface it sounds like a very valid reason for breaking promises without looking like they are breaking promises.

AAA bond rating is always a good fall back excuse for raising taxes......they've been using that tactic in Delaware for years........and the last time it was true was back in the 1970's and then Gov Pete DuPont didn't give a rat's behind when he declared the state on the verge of bancruptcy---because it was. Before his first term in office was done that AAA rating was back.

It was nothing but a little blip on the screen.

[familyofman]

"Funny thing, that bond rating."

I'm starting to get that old - 'bait & switch' feeling in the pit of my stomach.

[CJ Wolf]

"He's from my district. I thought he had voted No before."

Yes, I think he changed his vote, you know for the schools and transportation safty.

[familyofman]

"Yes, I think he changed his vote, you know for the schools and transportation safty."

Could also be - 'love train, love train - get on board' - deal as well. Wanting to be on the 'winning team' means a lot to some.